Weighted cement



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Patented A r.7, 1942 Examiner WEIGHTED CEMENT Donald B. Edwards, Houston, Tex., asslgnor to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla., a

corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,812

11 Claims.

My invention relates to weighted cements and more particularly to cements to be used for the cementing of oil or gas wells.

The practice of cementing in oil or gas wells is well known to the art. It is common practice to cement a string of casing whenever such a string is run in an oil or gas well. Placing the cement behind the casing not only tends to hold the casing in place after it has been put into the well but also tends to seal off whatever formations are behind the casing. The sealing off of these formations is a very important function of the cement. If there are any porous formations containing oil, gas or water, it is extremely important that they be so well sealed off that the fluid cannot flow from them into the well. Another important use of cement in oil or gas wells is for shutting off certain formations below casing or in open hole. Cement is also used for sealing the holes in casing after it has been perforated. These are not all the uses of cement in oil or gas wells, but in the uses mentioned, and in all others, it is of utmost importance that the cement slurry be uncontaminated when it reaches the point at which it is desired for it to set.

In certain territories, especially where there is heaving shale present, and in deep wells, the cement does not seem to set properly and re-cementing is required. This is not only costly but dangerous since cementing, especially in deep wells, and in wells where heaving shale or a high pressure is encountered, is frequently a dangerous operation during which the well may be lost.

One cause of the difficulty appears to be in part due to the small differences in density of the cement slurry and the mud fluid being used.

An ordinary mud fluid made with play or clayey 16 pounds per gallon. The usual difference in density between the mud fluid in the well and the cement slurry is therefore about 4 to 6 pounds per gallon. This difference in density is apparently sufliciently great to keep the two suspensions from intermixing except just at their interface and to make the cement displace the mud completely at whatever level it is desired to place the cement. The cement slurry is usually placed in the well by pumping it through tubing, drill pipe or casing. There appears to be very little contamination of the cement until after it leaves the bottom of the pipe through which it is being placed. If there is a difference of density of 4 to 6 pounds per gallon between the mud fluid and the cement slurry, th mud fluid apparently tends to float on the cement slurry as the slurry emerges from the pipe and starts upwards; the cement slurry more or less completely displaces the mud fluid and fills the entire space outside the pipe and a good cement job results since the cement slurry is but little contaminated with the mud fluid.

In deep wells, or where high pressures are encountered, or in drilling in or through heaving shale, heavier mud fluids are used, thus reducing the difference in density between the mud and the cement slurry. In wells of this type mud fluids with a density as high as 16.5 pounds per gallon have been used and a density of 18 to 20 pounds per gallon is not impossible. This greater density may be obtained by using powdered substances, such as barytes or hematite, or it may be obtained in anerways The means by which the greater density of the mud fluid is obtained is of no importance to this invention, the important thing being the fact that the mud fluid does have a greater iensity than is ordinarily used.

When the density of the mud fluid in an oil or gas well is raised to 13 to 16 pounds per gallon or higher, as is the case in drilling deep wells, wells where high pressures are encountered or wells in or through heaving shale, the difference between the density of the cement slurry and the mud fluid is only one or two pounds per gallon, or at most three pounds, and in this case the cement will follow the line of least resistance when it emerges from the pipe and will channel through the mud, leaving a mixture of mud and cement instead of an uncontaminated cement plug.

Another reason for the failure of cement jobs in deep wells, in wells where high pressures are encountered, and in wells drilled in or through heaving shale, may be that the cement slurry is agitated or disturbed while it is setting. It is a well known fact that if a cement slurry is agitated or disturbed while it is taking it initial set, the strength will be decreased materially. In fact, if the cement is violently agitated while it is setting, it will not set as a uniform mass but will set as individual lumps or particles and the resultant set cement will have no more strength than so much crushed rock or gravel.

When an oil or gas well is cemented, the hydrostatic head of the combined mud fluid column and cement column may be sufficiently great to prevent the well from flowing or blowing out, but the hydrostatic pressure may not be great enough to prevent agitation of the cement slurry while it is setting. In such a case, the cement would not set properly and a poor cement job would result.

ployed and are within the scope of my invention.

Powdered compounds of metals and other finely divided, inert, insoIuEle material of high density may be used to increase the specific gravity If a cement slurry were used of such a density 5 of t slurry. For example, iron oxide ba tes that the combined hydrostatic pressure of the various lead oxides and the liEe may e emmud fluid column and the cement slurry column p y d. U1I1g D e ed y es l have obtained would prevent the agitation. and disturbanceof these results: the cement slurry while it was setting, a good cement job would result. weight 3485' commas.

One object of my invention is to provide a Figenessvf Dellisity of s st weighted cement whereby the difference between water Cement Barnes S $9,? the density of the mud fluid and the density of the cement W111 be sufficlently great to enable Percent Percent Percent LbJJQHI. Lbs/winch the cement to completely fill the space where 2 8 5.2% it is placed and to be uncontaminated by the 18 5 4'230 mud fluid.

Another object of my invention is to provide a 26.0 37 0 {gag ,53 &0 2.340 cement slurry of such a density that the com- 2M 5M 2&0 {(1i80meshfi m2 5,350 bined hydrostatic pressure of the mud fluid 001- 20 17 3 40 5 43 2 f 21 5 2 150 umn and the cement slurry column will allow {+60mcsh. the cement to be undisturbed and not agitated whhe 15 h The addition of the barytes to the slurry seems Another ehleet of my h e 15 to prevlde to reduce the setting time of the slurry by about better method of cementing oil or gas wells at 25 25 to t t the test temperature of 180 F., great depth or he eheeuntermg hlgh e none of the slurries set in less than 3 hours when sures, when drhhhg 1h through heavmg a slow-setting cement was used. Three hours shaleshould allow ample time for placing the cement other and further ehjeets of hwehvehheh Wm in the well wherever it is desired. Tests made appear from the 9 with iron oxide, 95% of which would pass a 325 In gener y mvehhon contemplates mesh sieve, showed about the same strength as ereejehlg the dehsltyh? the cement Slurry by the barytes of the same fineness but the iron oxide edd1heh 9 finely dmded w e m by slurries set more rapidly. Other finely divided, the addtion of other finely div ded, m r and insoluble and inert materials, such as galena, insoluble materials of high density ana By the 1e entmte lead oxide, zinc oxide m addition of soluhle suBsEances. T'fiese additions Ehide c0 er m w g-1m to e cement eY e made smgly a generalf'hfiifihstance which is suscepticombma ion of e additive substances may be ble of fine subdivision so that it may be epended in the cement slurry to increase the den- Smce ordinary Portland cement sets in a very 40 may be used in this invention. Under some Short hme at the temperatures found, at the conditions, certain oxides of lead, as for examhettem of deep wens there are new heme used ple, red lead, are not wetted by water and, hence, several cements to which have been added some although t ey have a high specific gravity they h substance h as .whmh form such a thick suspension with water that .eeps the cement fimd f ohger penod. of they would not increase the density much above some of my as been done usmg that obtainable with cement and water. In this some of these slow-setting cements. case a wettin agent such as na hthenic Cid Finely divided metals may be used to increase a smfonmamc m the weight of the cement slurry. For eXample, B TG H thF'eEne nt'l'u r'ry to enable the using 40 mesh iron filings I have obtained these 60 fin l divided lead oxide to be Suspended results: Soluble substances may also be used to increase 7 the density of the cement slurry. These may be e C 3-day compresused in the form of saturated solutions; for ex- W gflfg fg fgg f ample, using a saturated solution of sodium Water Cement gg 180F.) chloride and a 45 per cent by weight so ution o 583mm nitrate, I have obtained the following Percent Percent Percent Lba/pat. Lbs/winch esu a2 2.5% .2. iii

at e 2 a; 2 :23

I found that the fluidity of the slurry conw t r g i L s-Ami. taining the iron was as good as that of the slurry g gg $3, 3 8 with no iron, except for the one weighing 23.8 sodium n t ate. 33 67 18.4 4,580

pounds per gallon. The iron settled out of this slurry so rapidly, it was difficult to measure its fluidity.

It is to be understood, of course, that any finely divided metal of high specific Eavity may be employed, iron eing given merely by way of example. Finely divided lead, copper, zinc, or

I have found that the cement remains fluid longer with these materials in the slurry, although they gel rapidly after agitation ceases. However, the gel strength of the cement is not suflicient to keep it from being pumped. Any other soluble substance which would not cause other metals of high specific gravity may be emthe cement to flash-set should be as good as those 1: .LiiSTlC mentioned above, and I do not limit my invention to these materials mentioned.

No predetermined limits for density can be set forth now, as the density of the cement slurry for each well will have to be determined by the conditions in that particular well. In general, sufiicient weighting material is used to increase the density of the cement slurry to a point at least five pounds per gallon higher than that of the particular mud fluid used. For example, if a heavy mud fluid of a density of pounds per gallon were being employed, the cement slurry should have a density of at least pounds and may be as high as pounds per gallon.

Finely-divided, as used in this description to denote the materials used for weighting, is used to cover the range of sub-division between the largest particle size which could be pumped with the cement and the smallest particle size to which the materials could be ground commercially. The best results have been obtained with material finer than 20 mesh and coarser than 100 mesh.

The materials which are used to raise the density of the cement slurry may be incorporated with the dr c em egt when the enient1s"fiiifidfactured 0 may be wily it]; the cement as the cement is mixed. "Tif'use'fithweighted cement will displace the mud fluid and enable the mud fluid to float on top of the slurry and thus prevent the mud fluid from contaminating or channeling the cement slurry, enabling a homogeneous plug to be achieved. The weighted cement will also increase the hydrostatic head and will tend to allow the cement to set without being agitated after it has been pumped into place.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by, and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells having incorporated therein a finely divided, suspended metal.

2. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells including in combination cement, a finely divided metal and a wetting agent.

3. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells having incorporated therein a finely divided metal, said slurry having a density in excess of that of a usable slurry made with cement and water alone. I

4. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil or gas wells having incorporated therein'a finely divided, suspended heavy metallic compound.

5. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells including in combination cement, a finely divided heavy metallic compound and a wettin agent.

6. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells having incorporated therein a finely divided heavy metallic compound, said slurry having a density in excess of that of a usable slurry made with cement and water alone.

'7. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells having incorporated therein a weighting agent, said slurry having a density in excess of that of a usable slurry made with cement and water alone.

8. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells having incorporated therein a weighting agent, said slurry having a density of from 18 to 30 pounds per gallon.

9. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil wells having incorporated therein a wetting agent and a material to increase the density.

10. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil or gas wells having incorporated therein soluble compounds in sufiicient concentration to materially increase the density of the slurry.

11. A pumpable cement slurry for cementing oil or gas wells including in combination cement, a weighting agent, such as powdered iron or powdered barytes and a soluble compound such as sodium chloride, said slurry having a density in excess of that of a. usable slurry made with cement and water alone.

DONALD B. EDWARDS. 

